The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLII-2, 2018

ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy

OPEN SOURCE CLOUD-BASED TECHNOLOGIES FOR BIM

Sotirios Logothetis, Eleni Karachaliou, Elena Valari, Efstratios Stylianidis

Faculty of Engineering, School of Spatial Planning & Development

Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
slogothet@auth.gr, ekaracha@auth.gr, evalarig@auth.gr, sstyl@auth.gr

Commission II, WGII/2

KEY WORDS: Building Information Modelling (BIM), Heritage BIM (HBIM), Cloud computing, Open Source Software, BIMserver,
Nextcloud, FreeCAD, collaboration

ABSTRACT:

This paper presents a Cloud-based open source system for storing and processing data from a 3D survey approach. More specifically,
we provide an online service for viewing, storing and analysing BIM. Cloud technologies were used to develop a web interface as a
BIM data centre, which can handle large BIM data using a server. The server can be accessed by many users through various electronic
devices anytime and anywhere so they can view online 3D models using browsers. Nowadays, the Cloud computing is engaged
progressively in facilitating BIM-based collaboration between the multiple stakeholders and disciplinary groups for complicated
Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) projects. Besides, the development of Open Source Software (OSS) has been
rapidly growing and their use tends to be united. Although BIM and Cloud technologies are extensively known and used, there is a
lack of integrated open source Cloud-based platforms able to support all stages of BIM processes. The present research aims to create
an open source Cloud-based BIM system that is able to handle geospatial data. In this effort, only open source tools will be used; from
the starting point of creating the 3D model with FreeCAD to its online presentation through BIMserver. Python plug-ins will be
developed to link the two software which will be distributed and freely available to a large community of professional for their use.
The research work will be completed by benchmarking four Cloud-based BIM systems: Autodesk BIM 360, BIMserver, Graphisoft
BIMcloud and Onuma System, which present remarkable results.

1. INTRODUCTION services). Compared with the usual personal information

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is defined as the method
by which the design, implementation and management of
buildings and other structures are integrated (Matthews et al.,
2015). The US National BIM Standards Committee definition
(NBIMS, 2018) of BIM concerns "an integrated digital
representation of the physical and functional characteristics of an
infrastructure".
The last decade, a remarkable development and use of BIM
technology in the field of cultural heritage has been occurred and
so the term HBIM was introduced. Cultural heritage elements are
gathered using a terrestrial laser scanner, and produce
photogrammetric survey data. Therefore, the data transformed
into parametric objects with unique standards and protocols that
can be exchanged and processed from different experts (Osello
and Rinaudo, 2016) in order to document any size or complex
form of cultural heritage (Singh et al., 2011).
Cloud computing services adoption in the BIM and HBIM field
is appealing. The Cloud services refers to a network that is used
to interconnect with multiple computers or to get services
provided by a remote host over a network connection. Network
access is acceptable in a shared set of customisable computing
resources (such as networks, servers, storage, applications, and
systems, Cloud computing has powerful computer competences.
Furthermore, it can handle a large amount of data and provide
various types of software services. Cloud technology offers
remarkable savings in companies’ resources by using cheaper
computing power. Therefore, it helps at their technological
progression (Vaquero et al., 2009).
Most professionals mainly use a stand-alone commercial
platform for BIM projects. In fact, recent research (Logothetis &
Stylianidis, 2016) revealed that except of a few, accessible and
free BIM viewers there is no available, a valuable and
comprehensive free or open source BIM software to be used for
the overall BIM process. Chen et al. (2016) underpin that the
most significant drawbacks of using a standalone platform for
BIM applications are as follows:
1. The computer is often overburdened by using BIM
software due to constrained resources.
2. It has problem managing multiple BIM projects.
3. It is a hostile data-sharing environment for multiple
users collaborating on the same project.
4. It has difficulty answering the needs of statistical
analysis on a BIM project.
5. It has difficulty to store and share large data files.
6. The price of the commercial BIM software are very
high and inaccessible.

This contribution has been peer-reviewed.

https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-607-2018 | © Authors 2018. CC BY 4.0 License. 607
 The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLII-2, 2018
ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy
Responding to these issues, this study presents an open source
BIM platform developed using Cloud computing technology that
is able to handle geospatial data. The software that used for BIM
or HBIM processes are the same. For this reason, we will
generally refer to the BIM term for software, applications,
projects etc. as it includes both categories.
2. RELATED RESEARCH REVIEW
In this paper, we start with the literature review, illuminating the
published research in the field of BIM, Cloud computing, and
their integration. The following papers are those contributed
significantly in this study.
Chong et al. (2014) mentioned that fragmentation of practices is
one of the key issues in BIM. However, with advances
particularly in Cloud computing and in Information and
Communication Technology (ICT), the fragmentation of
working practices can be probably overcome. The ICT could
enhanced information flowing and communication in various
stages along a project life cycle.
Figure 1. Taxonomy of Cloud computing (Chong et al., 2014)
Chen et al. (2016) presented a Cloud-based system framework
based on MapReduce and Bigtable as the data storage and
processing paradigms for providing a web service for storing,
viewing, and analysing massive Building Information Models
(BIMs). Cloud, WebGL and Web 3D technologies were utilized
to develop a BIM data centre that can be accessed by users to
submit and view BIMs online in 3D.
Figure 2. System for data storage and 3D viewing of massive
BIMs (Chen et al., 2016)
Polter and Scherer (2017) introduced the BIMgrid, which is an
adaptive infrastructure integration framework for civil
engineering applications, based totally on public Cloud resources
and private grid. The BIMgrid is designed as a layered service-
oriented architecture (SOA) and offers several interfaces. The
data management supports the interoperability between
applications and will be based on the Industry Foundation
Classes (IFC) standard and vendor specific data formats.
Figure 3. BIMgrid interface architecture (Polter and Scherer,
2017)
This contribution has been peer-reviewed.
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-607-2018 | © Authors 2018. CC BY 4.0 License.
Du et al. (2018) mentioned Virtual Reality (VR) shows a great
potential to improve BIM workflow efficiency through enhanced
common understanding. However, with VR there is a lack of
automated and efficient data transfer approach between BIM.
They suggested a BIM-VR (BVRS) real-time synchronisation
system, which is grounded on a Cloud-based BIM metadata
communication and interpretation method. In several tests the
BVRS allowed users to update BIM model changes
simultaneously and automatically. The results of using the BVRS
have confirmed their usability and efficiency.
Figure 4. Architecture of BVRS (Du et al., 2018)
3. CLOUD BIM PROGRAMS
Cloud technology is very well known as an alternative and cost
operative answer to current state of data storage and exchange.
Since potential values of programs based in Cloud technology
such as low-cost and efficiency has been recognised, is believed
to be a promising trend the combination of BIM and Cloud
computing. Recently, there is tendency in the BIM programs to
gradually integrated and supported Cloud services. As a result,
Cloud-based BIM programs and BIM web services are becoming
more and more popular (Afsari et al., 2016). The integrated
Cloud-BIM model considered to be the second generation of
BIM programs. It enables a more effective real-time
communication platform and higher levels of collaboration for
project team members. However, the Cloud technology is still
relatively new to the construction industry (Li et al., 2014).
Redmond et al. (2012) carried out interviews in 11 experts to
discover how the use of Cloud BIM affects positively the
information exchange process. They concluded that it is
reasonable to have opportunities for different disciplines to
exchange and share the necessary data for making key decisions
at the early design stage. Porwal and Hewage (2013) had
suggested that the integration of Cloud computing with BIM
partnering framework could facilitate the pre-planning of
sustainable construction throughout a project’s lifecycle.
The services of the Cloud can be deployed as Public, Private,
Community and Hybrid (Kumar et al., 2018). According to Bilal
et al. (2016) and NIST (Web 1), as shown in the Figure 5, Cloud
computing depending on the management of services can be split
into three main services SaaS, PaaS and IaaS (SPI model):
1. Software-as-a-service (SaaS): a user via the Internet
has access to enterprise applications.
2. Platform-as-a-service (PaaS): a user is provided with
services pertaining to development environments such as
programming languages, operating systems or databases,
etc.
3. Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS): a user is provided
with computer and network infrastructures as a fully
outsourced service.
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 The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLII-2, 2018
ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy

Autodesk BIM360 is especially a design software with all the

planning functions. The additional Cloud computing capabilities,
are provided as more options. The software can be either
established in the computer or used thru the Cloud, providing
users the best of both capabilities (Chong et al., 2014).

BIMServer enables users to create a BIM Cloud of their own.

This Cloud can be either through a Cloud service provider or a
private Cloud. Primarily, this software is a file and BIM sharing
program which allows the users collaborate in a project (Chong
et al., 2014).

Another Cloud-based BIM software is BIMcloud, which allows

a BIM workflow on any hardware, software or network
Figure 5. Security Responsibility in the Cloud (Web 17) configuration, connecting users, teams and projects of any size or
setup. It combines “Delta” BIM Server technology with the
For a private Cloud, the administrator of the organization has
advantages of the Cloud computing (Web4).
more flexibility to customise how servers, networks, and storage
are separated. Finally, Onuma System has varied functions in its Cloud
computing options too. The strength of this software is towards
In this paper we compared a total of four Cloud-based BIM architectural use and the project management aspect. In addition
programs, namely Autodesk BIM 360, BIMServer, Graphisoft to that, it works well for project and program development, while
BIMcloud and Onuma System. All programs fulfil the definition data from other users can exported or imported in this software
of a BIM, which enables digital representation of the physical and as well (Chong et al., 2014).
functional characteristics of a structure and also geospatial data.
The results presented in Table 1, and can be further used in order 4. BIM DATA
to draw useful conclusions. It can be clearly perceived that
Autodesk BIM360 and Graphisoft BIMcloud offers the most of BIMs used in the AEC industry usually contain 3D information
the features, while BIMserver provides the fewest ones. On the that primarily refers to vector-based data. On the other hand,
other side, BIMserver is the only program labelled as Free and BIMs are also used for the representation and management of
Open Source Software (FOSS). existing structures, commonly described with the term “as-built”
BIM. The development of an “as-built” BIM requires the data
Software Features Cloud-based BIM programs acquisition of the current state of the relevant structure (Macher
BIM BIM BIM Onuma et al., 2017), the geometrical modelling of the objects, the
360 server cloud System attribution of categories and material properties to the objects and
Design tools    the creation of relations between them (Hichri et al., 2013). In
3D visualization     this case, the use of 3D point cloud data of the built environment,
Online file storage     providing the real capture of the field conditions, serves as a
Online drawing viewing   
solution to enhance 3D BIM applications (Qu and Sun, 2015).
Online drawing editing   
Clash detection   The term “point cloud” refers to a set of points in a coordinate
Lifecycle Management   system usually representing the surface of an object or area.
Simulations    
When referring to a three-dimensional coordinate system these
Detailed management  
points are defined by x, y and z spatial coordinates (Qu and Sun,
permissions
Online sharing of file     2015). The most common used techniques to acquire 3D point
Mobile apps    cloud data are range-based i.e. lasergrammetry, or image-based
Browser based     i.e. photogrammetry (Qu and Sun, 2015) & (Hichri et al., 2013).
management Lasergrammetry refers to the use of different kinds of laser
Folder hierarchy     scanners (i.e. long-range scanners, terrestrial laser scanners,
Support IFC files     triangulation scanners etc.), in order to collect high-density point
File management system     cloud data by projecting a laser beam on the geometry to be
Clash detection    captured. Photogrammetry is a technique to create 3D
Private Cloud    representations using overlapping images of the interested
Encrypted data    object/area (Hichri et al., 2013).
http/https support    
Multiple Cloud Servers  Qu and Sun (2015) indicate that in the construction project life-
Automated server backups  cycle using BIM, 3D point cloud data may be used during:
User groups  
Multi language support    The planning and design phase, in order to acquire data
Free trial   of the surrounding area in a quick and low-cost way.
Free or Open Source   The bidding and construction phase providing the
Table 1. Comparison of features of Cloud-based BIM programs constructor the opportunity to extract dimensional
((Chong et al., 2014) & Web 2, 3, 4, 7) information and make realistic decisions on the work
progress.

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 The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLII-2, 2018
ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy

 The post-construction phase to update the construction

BIM models or to compare before and after.
Although the integration of 3D point clouds in BIM offers many
advantages and facilitates the design process, however, two
major challenges remain ((Qu and Sun, 2015), (Macher et al.,
2017), (Hichri et al., 2013)):

 In comparison to the vector-based data, the point cloud

contains raster geometric information and therefore the
amount of data is huge which means high requirements in
terms of computer storage and computation load.
 The integration of a 3D point cloud into BIM is
considered time-consuming, since the point cloud contains
only geometric information and the characterisation of Figure 6. File - directory structure of the Cloud
object shapes, relations and attributes needs to be completed
manually. Especially, when it comes to complex BIMServer, as illustrated in Figure 7, is a FOSS that enables
geometries, such as cultural heritage structures that are users to transform any computer into a file sharing BIM server.
characterized by various uncategorized shapes. It has the ability to analyse IFC data and files. IFC data are
interpreted and stored as objects in a specific database. On top of
In a BIM workflow, data are managed and shared between AEC the database core features like model checking, comparing,
professionals, users, and systems. The file formats are commonly merging, authorisation/authentication, etc. are available. The
used are proprietary (like: RVT, OBJ, STL, DWF, DXF, etc.) and files located in the server will be available via a web browser.
non-proprietary (like: IFC) for data sharing between BIM BIMServer is used in the AEC industry for effective and efficient
software packages (Bilal et al., 2016). collaboration (Chong et al., 2014).
IFC by buildingSMART, formerly the International Alliance for
Interoperability (IAI), is an open and neutral data format that is
compatible with various BIM applications. It is the only public
standard for BIM data exchanges that includes geometry, object
structure (topology), material and performance attributes (Kim et
al., 2015). The IFC is used for sharing of information between
the project, design, maintenance, procurement, and operations
teams (Web 5).

5. THE PROPOSED CLOUD-BASED SYSTEM

The proposed Cloud-based system for providing a web-based

service for managing BIM data is called CloudServerBIM. It is a
real-time web service provided at the same time to multiple users
for viewing and uploading BIM data anywhere, anytime, using
any computer or mobile device. It makes use only FOSS, such as
Ubuntu ver.16.04 LTS (Web 6) as the operating system,
BIMserver ver.1.5.95 (Web 7) as the BIM data file server, and
Nextcloud ver.13 (Web 8) as a file share and communication
platform.
Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on the Debian architecture.
It is an open source operating system for computers. Ubuntu is
also available for smartphones and tablets, with the so-called
Touch edition (Web 9). It is popular on network servers with
enterprise-class features, usually running the Server variant (Web
6).
Nextcloud, as shown in Figure 6, is an open source client-server
program for developing and using file hosting services. It is
functionally similar to Dropbox, permitting anyone to install and
operate it on a personal server. Some of the key Nextcloud's
features are:
1. User files are encrypted.
2. Data can be shared by defining read/write permissions
between users or groups.
3. It permits user and group administration via LDAP or
OpenID.
4. Users can create public URLs when sharing files (Web
8).
Figure 7. BIMserver: IFC on BIMvie.ws
The CloudServerBIM belongs to the category of a private Cloud.
A private Cloud is created and managed by an organisation,
providing much more privacy and control (Mahamadu et al.,
2013). According to Liu et al. (2016) the characteristics of a
private Cloud are:
1. Scalable: high levels of utilisation (through
virtualisation of the data centres).
2. Shared: capacity is pooled as the workloads are
multiplexed.
3. Accessible: easy to use the Cloud-based web services.
IT users can self-provision.
4. Elastic: ability to dynamically add or reduce resource
according to the user’s requirements (e.g. infinite capacity
on demand, integrate with public Cloud, etc.).
5. Cost-effective: minimising the budget of the
organisation.
5.1 System requirements
There are three fundamental requirements for realising an online
web system for multi-user BIM data collaboration and managing.
First, with regard to the model presentation, the system should
display online all the components in a 3D presentation. Then, it
should permit users to access the properties of the BIM

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 The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLII-2, 2018
ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy

components. Second, data security is very important in terms of
user cooperation through the Cloud system. Third, as far as the
performance of the system is concerned, the Ubuntu operating
system should be reliable, stable, extremely fast, and without
requiring high computing resources.
provides the BIMviews software a tool to evaluate and view
BIM models online (Web 16). BIMServer architecture is
presented in Figure 9. It centralises the information of a
project with a core that is based totally on IFC data. Finally,
it shares this information to client applications through
specialised interfaces (“BIM Surfer” and BIMviews).

Figure 9. BIMServer architecture (Afsari et al., 2016)

5.2 System architecture

Figure 8. CloudServerBIM architecture Figure 10 shows the architecture of the proposed

CloudServerBIM collaboration system for data storage and 3D
In this study, the following technologies integrated to develop the BIM data viewing. The system is divided into two layers: the
CloudServerBIM, which satisfy these requirements. back-end and the front-end. Front-end is all the structure involved
CloudServerBIM architecture illustrated in Figure 8, while the and what a user is interfacing, which includes some programming
embedded technologies described below. languages like PHP, Javascript and HTML. Back-end refers to
scripts or programs that are executed on the server itself and are
1. Apache HTTP Server, is a free and open-source web
server. It is a cooperative development aimed at creating a independent from the client's PC.
robust, and freely available source code implementation of
a Web server. The Apache project is managed by a group of
volunteers in the world, using the Internet. Apache supports
a variety of programming languages such as PHP, Python,
Tcl and Perl. It also includes popular authentication
modules, Secure Sockets Layer, Transport Layer Security, a
proxy module, a URL rewriting module, custom log files
and filtering. It supports digital certificate authentication
and password authentication. Apache features DBMS-based
authentication databases, content negotiation, and
configurable error messages. Several graphical user
interfaces (GUIs) supported (Web 11).
2. The Apache Tomcat is an open source implementation
of the Java Servlet Container developed by the Apache
Software Foundation. Tomcat provides an HTTP web server
in which Java code can run. It is developed and maintained
under the auspices of the Apache Software Foundation, by
an open community of developers. In this project, Tomcat
8.0.49 used, which implements the JSP (Java Server Pages)
2.4 and Servlet 3.1 Specifications (a Java program that
extends the capabilities of a server) (Web 12). This is a
necessary tool for BIMserver operation.
3. The Cloud services are provided by the Nextcloud Figure 10. The proposed CloudServerBIM
client-server software. Prerequisites for proper operation of
the Nextcloud are the pre-installation of the Apache2 HTTP In detail, back-end is the private server with Ubuntu operating
server, a MySQL and MariaDB database (a database server system. The following programs are installed on it: Nextcloud,
like MySQL (Web 13)), the PHP 7.1 (a server scripting BIMserver, Apache2 HTTP server, Apache Tomcat8. The
language (Web 14)) and SSL/TLS cryptographic protocols database systems that's used is MariaDB installed alongside
(Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) for data MySQL. Users can access the server as well as the services it
encryption which is also necessary for data security (Polter offers (Cloud & BIMserver) either through a local network, or
and Scherer, 2017).
over the Internet.
4. The BIMserver provides a suitable solution for IFC
based data management (storing, maintaining, and querying At the front-end layer, users can create BIM models using
IFC files). It provides the “BIM Surfer”, an open source
FreeCAD software. FreeCAD is a FOSS parametric 3D CAD
web-based (WebGL extension) viewer toolkit for the
modeller (Web 10) that is also used for ΒΙΜ modelling
visualisation of BIM data from IFC (Web 15). It also

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 The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLII-2, 2018
ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy
(Logothetis et al., 2018). Users use the FreeCAD that is installed
on their computer for BIM modelling. They can store their data
either on the local disk or on Cloud via the local network or over
the Internet. BIM data in the Cloud, can be shared with other
project participants. BIMserver enables users to view BIM
models and IFC files using their personal computers or mobile
devices. The benefits of using this proposed Cloud system are:
 large storage space;
 effective teamwork;
 safety in storing data in the Cloud system;
 easy public access to data stored in the Cloud system;
and
 Web-based accessibility (web-interface).
In CloudServerBIM as shown in Figure 11, users can be divided
into two types: BIM-viewers and BIM-uploaders. The two types
of users are described in detail below:
1. BIM-viewers connect to the server and select the BIM
data they want to view. BIMserver with the “BIM Surfer
WebGL viewer” retrieves the BIM geometry data from
private Cloud and presents it to users. In the illustrated BIM,
users can change viewing angles, adjust the view, and select
the objects to view their properties.
2. BIM-uploaders connect to the server using various
digital devices (computers, tablets, and smartphones). They
transfer IFC files to the Cloud system, which are then
analysed and converted into 3D formats. These formats can
be read by “BIM Surfer” and WebGL on the client-side.
Finally, the properties of BIM data are extracted and stored
in the private Cloud system.
Figure 11. System framework with two types of users (viewers
and uploaders)
The files shared or stored through the CloudServerBIM come
either from Photogrammetry processes, 3D scanning or from data
processing with a BIM software.
5.3 System validation
Validation of the CloudServerBIM was conducted on one
computer with Intel Core i3 CPU, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard disk, and
Linux Ubuntu 16.04 LTS as operating system. Ubuntu is free and
was built on a world of the open source projects (Ho et al., 2018).
The computer served as login server, equipped with BIMserver
and Nextcloud. BIMserver is equipped with two plugins, the
“BIM Surfer” (an open source WebGL based IFC uploader-
viewer) and the BIMviews (a Javascript plugin for uploading-
viewing 3D BIM models). This computer, in combination with
the above programs, formed a small private Cloud.
This contribution has been peer-reviewed.
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-607-2018 | © Authors 2018. CC BY 4.0 License.
Two other computers with similar hardware specifications and
FreeCAD installed, were used for BIM modelling (Logothetis et
al., 2018). These computers were used to upload and view BIM
models. A smartphone and a tablet, were also used only for
viewing these models via BIMserver. It is important to point out
that many users can simultaneously view BIM models online
using the CloudServerBIM system. The models are displayed in
a browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, etc.) via the local network or the
Internet. The BIMserver and Nextcloud web address is available
on the network through the Apache HTTP and Tomcat Server.
Performance in the presentation of BIM models depends on the
speed of the network and the specifications of users' display
devices. When users start viewing the model (e.g. IFC), the
system retrieves from the server all the components of the BIM
model. In addition, the system supports simultaneous uploading
of BIM data by multiple users. The storage space of the Cloud
system, that is available to users for file sharing and teamwork,
depends on the capacity of the server's hard disk.
6. CONCLUSIONS
Existing Cloud-based applications for BIM face several
challenges in data exchange and have not fully exploit the
potential of the Cloud. Therefore, there is a need to develop a new
free and open source system that defines the collaborative
processes and BIM file sharing utilising network technologies as
major Cloud enablers.
This study proposed an open source Cloud-based system
framework for storing, viewing, and analysing BIM and HBIM
models. For the development of the system, we combined
different technologies; Cloud computing technology with the
Nextcloud software, 3D display technology with BIMserver
equipped by plugins “BIM Surfer” and BIMviews, and PHP web
technology. The proposed system framework can provide web
services that allow AEC professionals to upload BIM and HBIM
models to the Cloud data centre for sharing them with others
involved in a project. The system, which might viewed as a BIM
and HBIM reviewing platform that facilitates the collaboration,
is divided into a client-side and a server-side.
The client-side contains the FreeCAD as the modelling software
and a browser, connected with the server-side that provides PHP
and WebGL 3D technologies. The user can use any computer or
mobile device to connect to the network and then connect into
CloudServerBIM anytime and from anywhere, to view or upload
BIM and HBIM models. The server-side includes Ubuntu
operating system, the BIMserver and Nextcloud. BIMserver
enables to create an online BIM system, which handles IFC data.
In close collaboration with the Nextcloud, it supports dynamic
teamwork process in the AEC sector.
This study has also identified and reviewed four Cloud-based
applications that are suitable for BIM. Autodesk BIM 360,
BIMServer, Graphisoft BIMcloud, and Onuma System were
analysed properly. Graphisoft BIMcloud and Autodesk BIM360
offer most of the features, while BIMserver provides the fewest
features. However, BIMserver is source FOSS. The program core
is based on the open standard IFC and for that reason is a perfect
choice for those users who have limited financial resources for
IFC data management. Many software engineers and many AEC
applications use the BIMserver platform as the reliable stable
base, and build upon their own tools. Putting BIMserver and
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ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy
Nextcloud work together, is the ideal solution to creating a
Cloud-based system for BIM and HBIM.
Our future research agenda will focus on improving the
CloudServerBIM efficiency and data security. The application of
the proposed Cloud-based system for specialised BIM and HBIM
is also an underexplored area of our research.
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ISPRS TC II Mid-term Symposium “Towards Photogrammetry 2020”, 4–7 June 2018, Riva del Garda, Italy

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